Band putter

ABSTRACT

A golf club of the putter type, with a club head ( 11 ) with at the outset a level, vertical or largely vertically positioned strike area ( 19 ). The strike area ( 19 ) is arranged as a long-shaped, lengthways extended interchangeable/replaceable tension bar ( 15 ), which is clamped to two fastening clamps at the opposite ends of the club head ( 11 ) by means of the two opposite end parts ( 18   a  and  18   b ) of the lengthways extended interchangeable/replaceable tension bar. The lengthways extended interchangeable/replaceable part has, in an area between the two opposite end parts ( 18   a  and  18   b ), a main part ( 15   a ) which extends freely over a hollow ( 11   e ) in the club head ( 11 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a golf club of the “putter” type, with a clubhead which has a level, or largely level, strike area. When using aputter to put a golf ball on a putting green, the golfer usually strikesthe ball applying a non-spinning stroke to move the golf ball along adesired path which gives it a rolling movement along the grass on aplane parallel with the plane of the roll. When a golf ball is to beputted into the intended hole it is important that the ball is given acontrolled path of movement, preferably with a controlled roll in thedirection of movement. In this connection, the aim is normally to givethe ball an even rolling movement over the surface, i.e. with rollingcontact with the grass on the green, and preferably without causing theball to jump unintentionally on the grass. Using this invention, the aimis to give the golf ball an intentional spin as soon as the stroke isplayed. In other words, it is desirable—at least with certain puttingstrokes—to transfer a large part of the kinetic energy from the golfclub to the golf ball thereby causing the ball to take on a spinningmovement, i.e. instead of applying a non-spinning stroke to the ball, astroke is played which gives the ball a combined thrust and spinningmovement. Until now, the golf ball has been given an intentional spin ofthis kind by, for example, holding the strike area of the putter at anappropriately oblique angle. Alternatively, the putter can “top” thegolf ball by striking it at a level above its the horizontal mid-plane.The strike area of the putter normally has a vertical position when theputter is in a normal vertical position in connection with a puttingstroke. But by having the strike area at an oblique angle in relation tothe vertical plane one may deliberately seek to create great frictionbetween the golf ball and the grass of the green already in the veryfirst phase of the ball's rolling movement as a result of the obliquelyangled stroke played against the golf ball. Consequently, the aim is toapply as controlled a spin as possible to the golf ball at an earlystage in the movement of the golf ball. In practice, however, in manycases the point at which the spin starts after the stroke has beenplayed is a matter of chance, and also the degree of spin, since afterbeing struck by the golf club the golf ball, in certain cases, may begiven a rapid upward lifting movement from the underlying surface andmay therefore make a subsequent soaring movement in relation to theunderlying surface. Thus, the golf ball is given a limited or more orless uncontrollable spin. Until now, the position of the strike area ofthe putter in relation to the golf ball has been very decisive for themovement of the golf ball in relation to the underlying surface.However, local conditions (humidity/dampness, unevenness etc.) on thegreen affect, to a varying degree, the friction of the golf ball andthereby its speed of movement and pattern of movement, including thespin movement and the speed of the spin. When the player's putter strokemeets the golf ball in an area above the horizontal mid-plane of theball, the golf ball may experience an element of downward force in thedirection of the grass on the green, with the result that one achievesintentionally greater friction and an intentional spin on the golf ballat an early stage of the stroke, thereby allowing the ball to roll in anintentional spinning plane and obtaining the gyro effect. Further, whenthe player places the strike area of the putter at an oblique angleupwards and forward, it is possible, by applying this intentionalinitial friction against the grass, to ensure that a controlled patternof movement of the golf ball is achieved in more or less continuouscontact with the grass during the rolling movement. On the other hand,if, for example, the player places the strike area of the putter at anoblique angle upwards and backward, it is possible to give the golf ballan intentional soaring or jumping movement, in cases where this isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Using this invention, the aim is to arrive at a solution whereby theputter can give the golf ball a relatively soft and sensitive strokewhereby the gyro effect is obtained at an early stage after the stroke.The level of power transferred is adjustable and where the putter, inthis connection, can easily give the golf ball the exactly desiredmovement by giving it the intended spin and the desired gyro effect. Theaim is to ensure that the intended spin movement of the golf ball can beeffected directly from the strike area of the putter, i.e. at an earlystage in the stroke of the putter against the actual golf ball and witheasy and sensitive control of the stroke and to overcome the inertiaforce of the ball. This can be achieved by arranging the strike area ofthe putter in such a way that an interchangeable/replaceablelongitudinal, lengthwise extended tension bar is attached to twofastening points at each end of the putter head through the two oppositeends of the tension bar, and with the lengthwise tension bar, attachedthrough the two opposite ends, stretching freely over a hollow in theputter head. Using, the lengthwise extended tension bar, which extendsfreely over a hollow in the putter head, it is possible to achieve somesoftening of the putter stroke against the golf ball and at the sametime have the possibility of giving an initial spin to the golf ballimmediately on striking the ball. According to the invention, byensuring that the said tension bar is locally pliable it is possible toachieve a relatively extensive, i.e. a relatively wide strike areabetween the putter head and the golf ball. By giving the said tensionbar a relatively smooth and low-friction strike surface it is possibleto ensure that there is low friction between the putter head and thegolf ball in order to deliberately cause the golf ball to have theintended spinning movement. This can also be further controlled, forexample by raising or lowering the putter head in relation to the centreof gravity of the ball. A delayed transfer of the force (kinetic energy)from the putter head to the ball will give a smoother and softer stroke.This greatly affects the ball and causes the ball to spin immediatelyafter the stroke. The spin is desirable immediately after the stroke inorder to obtain the gyro effect, which in turn gives better stabilityboth in direction and length. Other features of this invention are shownin the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, as follows:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a golf club of the putter type, as seen facingthe strike area of the club head.

FIG. 2 is an end section of the club head.

FIG. 3 is a plan drawing of the club head.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the club head.

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of a modified version of the putterhead.

FIGS. 6-8 show alternative forms that may be implemented in the putterhead as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a golf club 10 of the putter type, consisting of a clubhead 11, connected to a shaft section 12 by means of a transitional part13 which may be angled in different directions. The shaft section 12 isshown with a traditional hand grip 14.

This particular case relates to a putter with a putter head which can beadjusted in different ways relatively simply. In accordance with theadjustment requirements laid down by the “Royal and Ancient Golf Club ofSt. Andrews” and the “United States Golf Association”, the weight ofother golf clubs than putters may be adjusted. However, as regardsputters, other adjustments may be made in accordance with the following:

(I) It must not be possible to make the adjustment easily.

(II) All adjustable parts shall be fixed firmly in place during use sothat there is no reasonable possibility of parts loosening or of themactually being re-adjusted during use/play.

(III) All results of adjustments made must be in accordance withstipulated rules.

The conclusion is that the functional properties of a golf club (in thisconnection also including a putter) cannot be changed during play andthat any change during play will entail the disqualification of theplayer from the game in play. According to the invention, the golf club(the putter) is described and shown taking account of the permittedadjustments, as mentioned above. In other words, according to theinvention, the different versions and the different alternative partsprovide the possibility of making a number of different adjustments,including the interchange/replacement of different parts and someadjustment of the parts in relation to each other. It is envisaged thatadjustments of this kind will be made in a workshop, or using specialtools, thereby—as intended—making it difficult to adjust the putterduring use/play. The actual club head 11, in accordance with the versionshown, is made of light metal, such as an aluminum alloy, while theinterchangeable/replaceable part in the club head which is the actualstrike area may be made of another material. The club head 11 in theversion shown has a stiff and stable part made of light metal and with arelatively flat bottom part 11 a from which two end walls 11 b and 11 cextrude, and between which is a back part lid, and which three parts 11b, 11 c and 11 d together mark the limits of the hollow space 11 e. Theend walls 11 b and 11 c converge obliquely outwards from the back partat an angle of about 75° from the back part 11 d and extrude to a heightof, for example a/2 in front of the front side 11 a′ of the bottom part11 a. The bottom part 11 a, the end walls 11 b and 11 c and the backpart 11 d are shown with an internal wall thickness a, as shown in FIG.4. Internally, on the bottom part 11 a of hollow 11 e, are shown threemarked sighting lines 11 f. An interchangeable/replaceable part in theform of a band-shaped, long-shaped part 15, here called a tension bar,is attached at its opposite ends using clamp plates 16 a and 16 b,respectively, and the appropriate fastening screws 17, to the obliquelybackward angled sides 11 a′ and 11 b′ of the end walls 11 b and 11 c ofthe club head. The fastening screws 17 should preferably not passthrough the tension bar 15, and in this connection are shown as two rowsof screws along each end of the tension bar. A relatively rough surfaceis used on the inward-facing surface of the clamp plates 16 a and 16 b,and preferably also on the adjoining backward angled sides 11 a′ and 11b′ of the related end walls 11 b and 11 c, thereby ensuring that thetension bar 15 is firmly attached. According to the invention, with theversion shown, the aim is to devise an especially simple, barelyconcealed, and relatively uncomplicated club head construction and arelatively simple interchangeable/replaceable part which is firmlyattached to the club head construction. The tension bar 15 is attachedto the club head 11 preferably with an exactly measured, permanenttensile strength. The tensile strength is determined using a tensiondevice, details of which are not shown. The tension bar extends from thepoint of attachment between the respective clamp plates 16 a and 16 band the related end walls 11 b and 111 c, and bends around each roundedend 18 a and 18 b. Between the rounded ends 18 a and 18 b the tensionbar extends freely across the said hollow le with a mid-strike area 19for a golf ball. During use/play, the clamp plates 16 a and 16 b are apermanent point of attachment for the tension bar 15, since it isintended that the clamp plates 16 a and 16 b will not be tampered withat times when they are to be left alone. The tension bar 15 is shownwith its main part 15 a extending freely between the rounded ends 18 aand 18 b to create a very tense strike surface 19 which permits somelocal deformation when it is struck or strikes against a golf ball. Theprocess of inducing the tension in the tension bar can be performedusing a separate tension device, preferably one which has a specialpointer to show the tensile strength of the tension bar 15 before it isheld fast by the clamp plates 16 a and 16 b. During installation of thetension bar 15 the opposite ends of the tension bar are attached on theinside to a tension device which, in a way not shown here, can create asupport against the back part 11 d of the club head 11. After thetensile strength in the tension bar 15 has been set in connection withclub head 11, the tension bar is attached to the club head 11 using theclamp plates, and the connection between the tension bar and the tensiondevice is cut, including any superfluous parts of the tension bar. Inorder to be able to regulate the tensile strength of the tension bar 15at a later date, it is therefore necessary to have a separate regulatingdevice. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to make it impossible tore-regulate the tensile strength during play. In practice, changing thetensile strength means changing the entire tension bar and then settingthe tensile strength of the new tension bar at the desired level, andfinally cutting the connection between the tension bar and the tensiondevice. In cases where it is necessary to diverge from the requirementcalling for ease of subsequent regulation of the tensile strength duringuse, it is clear that there are several ways of modifying the means ofattaching the tension bar and the ways of regulating the tensilestrength, although no examples are shown here. Alternatively (withoutshowing further details here), it would be possible to incorporate theregulating device or relevant regulating devices in the club headitself, but preferably with appropriate covering of the regulatingdevice/devices, using a detachable screw cover, or similar. Analternative method of regulation of this kind would necessarily, and inany event to some extent, complicate the construction of the club headand the general design, and would also affect the weight of the clubhead. In the version shown, the tension bar 15 consists of bar materialwith a high tensile strength in a longitudinal direction and preferablywith low or very limited longitudinal elasticity. The bar material mayitself consist, for example, of fibre material with a high tensilestrength in the form of a bar in woven form. In the latter case acertain elasticity may be achieved in the weaving, for example locallyin the weaving, and more specifically, locally in the actual strike area19 of the tension bar 15. In addition, locally in the strike area 19, asa consequence of the woven structure, it is possible to achieve thedesired low degree of friction, and thereby the desired effectivefriction effect between the surface of strike area 19 and the golf ball.Alternatively, the tension bar 15 may be made of metal, plastic or othersuitable material with a high tensile strength, such as a compositematerial with certain tension-absorbing components and other moreelastic components. For instance, the tension bar 15 may have a greatertensile strength, for example by having a greater bar thickness in theareas at or around the length-ends than in the intermediate bar area,especially the middle area of the bar. FIG. 5 is a perspective drawingof alternative club head 111, whose end sections 116 a and 116 bterminate more or less flush with the front side 111 d′ of the bottompart 111 d. In this alternative version the aim is to be able to replacesome other interchangeable parts as required. Specifically, the endedges of end sections 16 a and 16 b are designed with their respectivepositions 25 a and 25 b to fit each of their interchangeable parts 26 aand 26 b which with their circumference area extend a distance of a/2beyond the front side 111 d′ of the bottom part 111 d. In FIG. 5 theinterchangeable parts 26 a and 26 b are shown with a cylindrical outsidesurface with diameter a. In such a case, much the same effect will beachieved as with the rounded end edges 18 a and 18 b in the versionshown in FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show a perspective of the differentalternative designs for interchangeable parts 26 a′, 26 a″ and 26 a′″where they differ from each other in certain respects. Other differencesare also possible, but they are not shown here. In practice, forexample, there may be small dimensional differences or more locallylimited differences in the outside surface of the interchangeable parts.The first modified interchangeable part 26 a′, as shown in FIG. 6, hascylindrical end sections 27 and 28 with diameter a and a conicalmid-section 29′. This therefore gives the possibility of inducingdifferent tension strengths in the ends of the tension bar 15, therebygiving these ends different properties during play. It is thereforepossible to get different effects from the club head by either liftingor lowering the club head in relation to the underlying surface. Anotherinterchangeable part 26 a″, as shown in FIG. 7, has cylindrical endsections 27 and 28 with diameter a and a rounded concave mid-section29″.

This makes it possible to achieve a relatively high tensile strength inthe tension bar 15 and a slightly lower tensile strength in themid-section of the tension bar 15. The aim is to achieve differentstroke possibilities at different heights on the tension bar 15 bylifting or lowering the club head in relation to the underlying surface.

A third modified interchangeable part 26 a′″, as shown in FIG. 8, hascylindrical end sections 27 and 28 with diameter a and a rounded convexmid-section 29′″. In this case it is possible to achieve a relativelyhigh tensile strength in the mid-section of the tension bar 15, withlower tensile strength in the end sections.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putter comprising: a head including endwalls and defining a hollow therein; a tension bar wrapped over forwardportions of said end walls and removably attached at opposite endsthereof to each of said end walls and extending lengthwise over saidhollow from one end wall to the other, said tension bar being formed ofa high tensile strength material and comprising an elongated band havinga main part disposed over said hollow which defines a generallyvertically oriented strike area; and fastening elements having structureconstructed and arranged to removably attach said opposite ends of saidtension bar to each of said end walls of said head; wherein saidfastening elements include clamp plates removably securable to each ofsaid end walls.
 2. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein said tension baris made from a material selected from the group comprising steel, metalalloy, or a material including woven fiber.
 3. A golf putter comprising:a head including end walls and defining a hollow therein; a tension barwrapped over forward portions of said end walls and removably attachedat opposite ends thereof to each of said end walls and extendinglengthwise over said hollow from one end wall to the other, said tensionbar being formed of a high tensile strength material and comprising anelongated band having a main part disposed over said hollow whichdefines a generally vertically oriented strike area; and fasteningelements having structure constructed and arranged to removably attachsaid opposite ends of said tension bar to each of said end walls of saidhead; wherein said forward portions of said end walls comprisereplaceable elements, each having a shape which imposes a lengthwisetension in said tension bar wrapped over said replaceable elements whichvaries in a direction transverse to the lengthwise direction.
 4. Thegolf putter of claim 3, wherein each of said replaceable elements has ashape selected from the group comprising cylindrical, conical, concaverounded, or convex rounded.